Lessons learned the first 50 years

Image
I hit a milestone. I turned 50 years old. I am thankful that I don't feel 50.   I am thankful for things God has taught me throughout those 50 years. .  I have learned that God loves mercy and when I feel a sense that justice needs to happen over mercy, all I need to do is remember that I am thankful for when God gives me mercy instead of a just punishment.   (Micah 6:8 8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.) ( Luke 6: 36  Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. ) I have learned that hurt people end up hurting people.   When I am able to see that I didn't hurt them but I am bearing the results of that persons hurt inflicted by other people, it helps me forgive whatever hurt they pushed onto me and move on.  (Romans 12 : 18  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. )  I have learned that anyone who thinks they have God

Purpose keeps you young

The older I get ... the more my gratitude grows for those older than me who keep young by living out a purpose.  Think about it!  A thousand years ago, the typical lifespan was 24 years of age.  A child that was born 100 years ago lived to be 50.   A child born today can expect to live to 80.   Why?  Why is this generation living longer than any other generation?  Is it to just fish through retirement?  To walk the beaches in Florida?  Is it to check out on others before you "check out"?   Of course NOT!    Psalm 92: 14 tells us that we shall "still bear fruit in old age".    Fruit... that's our purpose.  Purpose keeps you young.   I am thankful for the older people in my life who look for ways to bear fruits of  love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.   I am thankful for my dad who doesn't let  the chronic  pain  in his back force him to tell others he can't help them.  I am thankful for my mother in law who still volunteers at the hospital even though she is admitted too often to the hospital herself.   I am thankful for Cheryl who doesn't let her age dictate what she can and can't do and who she can help...and how many  four legged and two legged ones she can help.  I am thankful for AnnaLou who is still up for new friendships and investing in others.

I am thankful for you older people that stay young through answering God's call... His purpose for you! Thank you for modeling that well!  May I be the same...  



Psalm  92: 12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
    they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
    they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
    they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
    he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.

Galatians 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Why does God call us sheep?

Lessons learned the first 50 years

The call of Fellowship